Making the Deadline
The time for the Annual Johto Challenge Round grew ever closer and everyone in the country was preparing for it. In every city or town, schools opened and closed around the schedule of the Fighting League since so many students were in competing teams. After the first semester, a solid month had been reserved for the Challenge Round. Finals for that semester went by in a few days, then all were released to begin preparations for the big event.
The Challenge Round wasn't something every fighter participated in, but almost everyone attended it. Over the course of 2-4 weeks, teams from all over the continent would follow a path through every city and town, stopping for one day each to challenge members of the official gyms. It would be a long and tiresome journey to complete, but for those who might earn the necessary amount of badges it would be well worth the effort.
In the office of their lavish mansion, a meeting was called between Demona and Justin. "Now son," the 'Doomess began, "I know you planned on showing off your skill at the Challenge Round this year, but I would like you to wander the trail as a chaperone for your brother instead."
Her eldest protested. "Awww! But ma, my team's been workin' on strategy for months now, an' I'm up to claim the Rising Badge for us!"
She leaned back in her chair. "You only need two badges to complete your Johto collection. When you are not taking your turn during the competition, I want you watching over Bernard carefully. I have a feeling he is going to try and cheat his way to the top."
Justin chuffed as he slumped down in his seat, his tail flicking beside him. "So what? Let the little Weiner dog try."
"No. Your brother must learn to hold his own when all the cheating in the world will do him no good. Neither you or I reached our current positions through cheating, nor will he. See to it that his team meets every challenge on the same level as all the others. He will get no special treatment just because he is my son."
"All right, mom. I'll untrip all his traps as we travel the road to victory."
"Good. Keep me posted on his progress." Demona's expression became gravely serious. "I expect success from the both of you. For every badge you miss, you shall also miss a month's allowance.
Two months without an allowance?! Justin would have none of that. As much as his girlfriend loved to spend his inheritance, he would not be able to suffer two months of her nagging him because he was broke. He had all the confidence in the world that he would claim those missing badges he required; however, he did fear reprimand for his brother's failure. "Mother, you don't mean to deny me any of my allowance in the event that Junior doesn't make his way, do yah?"
Of course, he never should have asked her that question. The slyest of sly smiles crept up into his mother's features as she leaned forward in her chair. "If it will give you ample incentive to see your brother through this, then yes."
With a howl he leaped from his chair. "But mom," the Houndoom wailed, "you know Cassie only loves me for my money!! I can't go one day, let alone two-to-ten months without funds!"
"Then you had better give one-hundred and ten percent this year, and squeeze the same from your brother." The 'Doomess turned her chair sideways so she could walk away from it. "And you shouldn't be courting anything that only values your wealth."
After she left the office, her son rolled his eyes as he fell back into his seat. This was indeed going to be a long and painful challenge term for him.
Charter Bus Service
The information posters and registration forms for the upcoming Challenge Round were all quite clear on the fighting league's expectations. Unfortunately for Kevin, his team had yet to meet those expectations. Together, the unfinished group of him, Genki, Jimoku and May stood around Lesley's hospital bed, each holding their own copy of the poster. "Well, I know we can all make the registration fee," the Pikachu stated, "but we still don't have to Certificate of Team Authorization."
"We also do not have a whole team," Jimoku added. "Tournament rules strictly state that we must have at least six members before we can be authorized."
"I know, I know, but where are we gonna find one more fighter?"
Lesley set down her copy of the registration form so she could look around. "Don't you mean two? As much as it pains me to do so, Kev, I have to admit it. I'm not going to be well enough to compete this year."
Kevin's ears drooped. "Aw, but Les, this has been your dream--our dream! To fight side-by-side against all odds in the tournament together!"
"Well, the tournament isn't for a few years, but I am definitely going to have to miss the Challenge Round." The Rattata frowned. "I know it's going to be hard for me to lay here and do nothing while the rest of you struggle." She then smiled. "But hey, I'm sure you'll do great without me."
"Don'tyouworryabout a thing,Les," Genki said. "We'llgooutthere, we'llwinabunchofbadgesandwe'llbringyoubackasouvenirfromeverycityandtown!"
"Thanks, you guys, though you better start plotting out how you plan to get two more members to your team."
"Our team, Les," Kevin noted, "your name is still going on the registration." He waved a hand casually as he added, "And don't worry about the certificate. We put fliers up all over the city to advertise for more members. After this meeting, we're heading to my place to meet with some candidates."
May piped up as she glanced at her Chibi Ninja Bunny wrist watch. "Hey! Shouldn't we be going now? There's bound to be a line or something outside the house, an' you know how mom an' dad love to show off our most embarrassing photos whenever they get the chance."
Her brother's eyes widened as frightful images of embarrassing moments of the past filled his vivid imagination. He certainly wouldn't want any stranger to get a hearty glimpse of him at age five, running through his uncle's wedding in the nude. "Yeah, you're right." Kevin turned to the rest of his friends. "We better go now. Les, we'll keep you posted. See you tomorrow."
"Bye, guys." Lesley waved as the group left the room, then settled back into her hospital bed comfortably.
The quartet saw they arrived just in time as they rounded the corner to the Yaffa residence. A line of Pokemorphs from all types, ages and races went deep into the yard behind the two-story house and ended somewhere down the block. It looked as though everyone in their neighborhood had decided to try out for their team, which was something Kevin felt might proud of. With so many entrants, they could far surpass the minimum member requirement for that certificate.
After excusing themselves several dozen times, the Pikachu and his friends made it to the front of the line where a folding table, four chairs and other things had been set up for their use. Each took a seat and clipboard in hand for the purpose of taking notes, then Kevin picked up a bullhorn and called to the visitors, "Hello! Can I please have your attention?" Most of the chattering quieted down. "Yes, thank you. We will now begin interviews for possible additions to our Independent Team. If you guys would just separate into four lines, one in front of each of us, this thing could go a lot faster." It took several moments, but the line soon parted into four equal rows in front of the table.
With the help of Jimoku, Genkimono and May, the line of candidates diminished within the course of one afternoon. Once the last solicitor turned and left the yard, the four friends let off hefty sighs of relief as they relaxed in their seats. "Man, that was a whole lot of talking," Kevin said with a huff, then held up his clipboard. "So, anyone get any possible callbacks?"
"Iwrotedownafew," Genki said, throwing his own clipboard down on the table.
"I found few to my liking," Jimoku stated with a shrug.
Kevin's ears twisted sideways. "Jim, just how did you plan on writing anything down, anyway?"
Looking sheepish, the Zubat held up his clipboard and on the first page, there was nothing but several squiggly lines and odd scratches. "I didn't really, but I also didn't want to make anyone feel unimportant by not writing something."
May flipped through the pages on her clipboard as she kicked her feet up onto the table. "Well, most of the people I interviewed didn't seem to have any fighting experience," she stated. "There were a few who sounded experienced, but they also sounded like escaped convicts or something." Her curly hair bounced as she shuddered.
"Nevertheless, we have to pick at least two of them," Kevin said as he rose from his seat. "Okay, guys, here's the plan. Tomorrow we go see Lesley in the morning, then start making phonecalls. We've got four days to get registered and get tickets for the charter bus," his ears drooped, "so as much as I hate to do this, even though we have plenty people who could be used, we're just going to have to choose two for now. We'll go see what Les thinks about a few of them before choosing, how's that sound?"
"Soundsfinetome," Genki stated.
"I am all right with that plan," Jimoku added.
May gave off a simple, "Chu."
The next day, the procedure was carried out just as planned. A brief meeting with Lesley at the hospital narrowed their selection down to seven possible new members for their team, which they met with that afternoon.
First to show was a young Swinub by the name of Clyde. He was carried into the back yard by both his parents, who seemed rather eager to make their child active. It was obvious they had forgotten their own childhoods and no one had told them that Swinub children are naturally inactive. Needless to say, Clyde's interview consisted of more snoring than talking. Kevin and his friends didn't hesitate to show him and his parents to the gate, though they were very polite about it."Sorry, Mister and Missus Wahk, we won't be using your son after all."
"Who chose that one," Jimoku asked the others in a whisper.
"Who knows," Kevin whispered back. "I think I was actually supposed to call the person above his name, but oh well."
Next there came an elderly Farfetch'd who could barely stay upright using the wooden staff he carried. The four friends sat with their mouths wide open as they watched him approach, then quickly formed a huddle to talk in private.
"Now who's bright idea was this one," the Pikachu whispered in a hiss of aggravation.
Genkimono glanced down at his clipboard, turning it upside-down and rightside-up several times. "Oops! Mybad. Ithoughtitsaidnineteen, not ninety-one. Sorryaboutthat." His head bobbed up and down rapidly as it was bonked with his Kevin's clipboard.
After they dismissed the old fellow, they sat a bit nervously as the third and fourth candidates walked in together. The first was a female Marill who seemed quite cheerful as she dragged in the second, a male Sandshrew, by his right hand. A steady frown claimed its position on the face of the latter, signifying his disgust which was steadily ignored by the one pulling him along. Giggling happily, the young girl skipped into the back yard and right up to the table, then sat onto it and leaned close to Kevin and his friends. "Hello! I believe you called us for auditions?" The pitch of her voice was even higher than May's; not surprising since she was a mouse.
Blinking a few times, Kevin watched as Jimoku rubbed his large ears vigorously, then turned his attention back to the strangers. "Oookay, can I have your names," the Pikachu asked as he held up his clipboard.
The Marill placed her white, fingerless-gloved hands down on the table, kicked up the legs of her white, thigh-high boots, then vaulted from the tabletop and into the arms of the irritated Sandshrew, giggling all the way. "I am Sibban Bailey! You can call me Chevy, everyone else does!" She pinched the nose of her holder, stating in a baby-accented voice, "And dis widdle pouty-face 's Samuel Andrews."
"Please don't do that, Chev," Samuel grumbled, then lowered his arms so she could stand.
On the other side of the table, the four friends did their best to stifle their snickering. After clearing his throat to end his silent laughing Kevin checked the list for their names, then straightened his face. "So I... take it you two are together?"
"That's right," Sibban stated cheerfully. "We need a team, and yours just happened to be so well-advertised that we had to check it out!"
Loud enough for the others to hear, Samuel muttered, "You ran face-first into the poster and a telephone pole while staring up at the clouds."
May couldn't help but giggle at that, yet she stopped the second her brother gave her an odd look. "All right," he continued, "let's move along. Have either of you been in a tournament or official match of any kind over the course of your lives?"
The Marill's head bobbed up and down in a nod. "Yep! I've won a few medals here and there from the Junior tournaments when I was starting out, and have worked with Sammy in quite a few tag team tournaments." She leaned forward, brought a hand up to her mouth and whispered, "Sam comes from a long line of champions! He wants to join a team to make his parents proud."
"This is so ridiculous," the Sandshrew grumbled.
"And what's so ridiculous about it," Kevin snapped defensively as he jumped from his chair. "We're trying to form a team so we can make it to the Challenge Round, now is that so much to ask?"
Samuel leaned his head forward with a frown. "It is for a bunch of losers in the backyard of their parents' house." He turned his attention to Sibban. "Look, Chevy, it's not too late for us to join up with one of the corporate teams. Why are we wasting our time with a group of rank amateurs?"
The Pikachu hopped over the table and stepped up to him. "You wanna know why? Because we won't turn on you an' beat you into the ground if you desert us, like certain corporate teams will! My best friend is in the hospital right now because the second she decided she didn't want to be part of a corporate team, they made sure she wouldn't fight for anyone else for a while!" He held up his clipboard and slapped it with one hand. "Now we're on a tight deadline here to make the requirements and sign up for the charter bus service so we can give that friend something to smile about while she recovers, and I don't need you standing in front of us with your sour looks and criticizing words, thinking that you know what's going on when you don't!"
The Sandshrew's tail flopped several times during the speech, then once more when it was over. "Are you trying to impress me with your lame sermon," he asked in calm annoyance.
"Sam, don't be rude," Sibban piped up. "Can't you see they're working for a just cause? I think it would be a nice gesture if we helped them see their goal, especially after what happened to their friend!" She frowned, folding her arms across her chest. "Now you apologize, or I'm going to cancel our dates for the next week."
In the background, May, Genki and Jimoku giggled while Kevin posed a question. "You two are dating?"
He had begun slouching after Sibban's threat, but once he picked up on the question, Samuel took a more defensive stance. "What, you got a problem with that?"
The Pikachu waved his hands and shook his head frantically. "Oh no! No problem. It's just... she's.."
"A Marill?" Samuel placed his hand around his girlfriend's waist as she leaned on him. "So what? It's not like she's dripping with water."
"Actually, I was more pointing out the fact that she actually puts up with you," Kevin said with a smirk. "Well, you two seem like the best candidates, so we'll be sure and call you back once we've seen the others on our list."
Hugging her swain, Sibban giggled happily before waving to the others. "Okay! We'll be waiting to hear from you!" She took Sam by the hand and started dragging him back around the house. "Come on! We don't want to miss that phone call!"
The four friends laughed as they watched the Sandshrew get carted off. "Who else is on the list," Jimoku asked afterwards.
"We got three more people to go through," Kevin replied. "Shouldn't take long, but I think those two are our best bets."
"Yeahyeah, theylookliketheycouldtakeapunchortwo," Genki stated.
Nearby, May's ears flattened against her head as she listened to her stomach growl. "Can we break for lunch or something, Kevin? I'm starving!"
"I guess so," her brother said with a shrug, then sighed. "Let's raid the fridge, then make another call. I want to get this done as soon as possible."
A brief recess was taken for lunch, then an hour later the unfinished team met up with the remaining candidates. A young Bulbasaur whined and complained as he was turned down and it took them a good half hour to comfort him and make him leave. After him, an orange Nidoran Male showed up who was almost as hyper as Genki. Thankfully the child was only seven years old and was easily turned down due to World League rules and regulations.
The last person to show never did, leaving the quartet with two hours of wait time before finally giving up. They already knew who they planned on choosing so it wasn't much of a loss. It only took a few minutes for them to reach Sibban and Samuel by telephone, and after a brief bus ride the group was together again, this time around Lesley Middleton's hospital bed. They greeted and talked amongst each other, taking in a few last minute considerations about what to call their newly formed team, then--with the exception of the Rattata--all rushed out to the Goldenrod City Gym where they could register for their team certificate as well as their tickets for the Charter Bus Service.
"Name?" A gum-chewing Miltank looked up past thick-rimmed glasses at the group of teens in front of her desk.
"May Yaffa, member."
"Jimoku Tsuneni, member."
"Genkimono Itachi, member!"
"Sibban Bailey, member!"
"Samuel Andrews, member."
"Kevin Yaffa, leader. Oh! And don't forget Lesley Middleton, she's a member, too."
"Wonderful." The receptionist's dull gaze drifted over to her computer monitor as she typed in the proper information. "Team Name?"
"Emphatic Esteem!" These words came with pride from the Pikachu's mouth, since it was his best friend who came up with the suggestion for it.
Sadly enough, no amount of enthusiasm seemed to shake the Miltank from her goal of emotionlessness. "Catchy." She reached into a file cabinet drawer and pulled out the multicolored sheet of thin, durable paper that beared the special ink and gold seal used to represent the official League of the World Fighting Circuit. Using a pen filled with long-lasting and highly permanent Horsea ink, she scrawled in the name of the team and its leader, then stamped a glossy seal of approval over the whole thing so it could only be seen when the paper was tilted in the right light. Kevin's thumb print and signature were added to the page, then it was neatly laminated to help it stand the test of time.
As she handed over the gilded certificate, the receptionist made the standard speech. "Congratulations, Emphatic Esteem, you are now an official part of the World Team Fighting Circuit. Your independent team may raise challenges to gyms as well as other teams, and may accept or decline any challenges issued to you. You are also now eligible to compete in the Annual Challenge Round, as well as the Quadrennial Fighting Tournament, which helps to determine which team, independent or otherwise, is the best across the joined continents of Kanto and Johto." She reached underneath her desk and pulled up a tan travel pack, which she set on her desk and began going through systematically. "Mister Yaffa, as a leader, there are a few tools you will need to see your team to victory that The League happily provides you with. This multi-compartment travel pack allows you to store all your minor travel needs without the hassle of disorganization. It is also the only bag you will be allowed to carry in and out of arena functions, with the exception of a gym bag for clothes and safety gear. Inside you will find your new PokéGear, which has several functions."
Her hands busied with a demonstration. "The PokéGear keeps perfect time at all times, and runs on a rechargeable battery. All you have to do is leave it out in the sun for a few hours and it will collect enough energy to last several days. It can also be used to contact other Gear carriers. All you have to do is swipe their Gear card in this slot here, then later on just cycle through your list to find and talk to them. You can give them your number as well. Through PokéGear shops you can purchase expansion cards which can be used to add features to your Gear, such as a radio and map of the continent. This is an official World Team Fighting Circuit PokéGear, so please do not lose it. In the event that you do, it can be replaced for the additional charge of two-hundred and fifty dollars."
Two-hundred and fifty dollars?! Kevin already had a basic grasp of what responsibility he would be undertaking--the inclusion of monetary penalties only added to the weight. With great awe, he took the pack and Gear in his hands then just stood there, admiring both while the explanation continued.
"Whenever an announcement is to be made that all Team Leaders need to hear, your PokéGear will ring with an automated announcer who will fill you in on what you need to know. If you miss that announcement, it will be left as a message on your Gear until you receive it. Other PokéGear devices can be purchased at shops for your teammates, but they will not have this function. Your travel pack also contains several brochures that explain the history of the World Team Fighting Circuit and the Badges, some tips for doing your best, and some information on a few notable success stories from competitions passed." At the end of her speech the receptionist handed over six freshly laminated I.D. cards with each team member's signature and fingerprint, those having been given during the oration. "Here you go, your individual cards for identification and discount at various shops and functions. Any new members will have to be brought by any registration station along with the leader to gain their membership card. This goes for your currently absent friend, Miss Middleton."
The Pikachu's head bobbed up and down several times as he made a mental note to bring Lesley by once she was well enough to leave her hospital bed. Then, with all the legal formalities aside, the newly formed team made their reservations for the soon-to-depart Charter Bus Service. Afterwards they left for Percy's to celebrate their successful making of the deadline.